The developer behind Stoke-on-Trent’s Goods Yard project and the regeneration of part of Newcastle-under-Lyme could be set to take over another city site, receiving £6.5 million of funding to do so and plans for new residential buildings in the pipeline.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet is being asked to appoint Capital&Centric as the development partner for the historic Spode pottery works site in Stoke.
The move would see the company allocated up to £6.5 million of Levelling Up money to deliver the work as part of the wider masterplan for the site.
Proposals will be subject to planning and other permissions but include the development of new high-quality residential buildings.
Other work to be done includes preparation of the site, landscaping and demolition of some buildings with no heritage value.
According to the council, the deal would also allow Capital&Centric to bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding which would enable it to bring the China Halls back into operational use.
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, the city council’s cabinet member for transport, regeneration and infrastructure, said: “What makes Spode special isn’t just the heritage, it’s the people and organisations that bring it to life.
“It’s a melting pot of what makes our city so great: creativity, community, and a belief in what Stoke-on-Trent can be.
“This project will protect that spirit while unlocking new opportunities – good jobs, economic growth, and more investment.
“We’re proud to work with Capital&Centric again. Their track record at Goods Yard shows they can deliver, and together we’ll make sure Spode continues to be a success story, not just for the creative industry in the city, but for heritage regeneration too.”
The proposed partnership does not include the whole site which will continue to host tenants such as developer Dog & Bone Ltd, ACAVA, BCB and Claybody Theatre. It is also home to creative companies including i-creation and renowned CGI and YouTube content producer VisualDon.
The Spode site was acquired by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2010, two years after the factory closed and went into administration.
In 2022, the council secured £10 million of Levelling Up Funding to invest in the site and bring it back into use.
Since August 2024, work has progressed on the delivery of a new masterplan for Spode. Asbestos removal work has been carried out across many of the heritage buildings, lease terms are being agreed for building 4 and the planned refurbishments of units 1F and 1G are ongoing to provide more space for the on-site Spode Museum.
Cabinet members will make a final decision on a development partner for the site on Tuesday, 27 May.
It is surprising and disappointing that this article fails to mention The Quarter at Potbank — the largest employer on the Spode site and the business that consistently brings the highest footfall to the area.
While the article lists several valued creative tenants, it overlooks the fact that The Quarter at Potbank has played a central role in the ongoing revitalisation of the site. Through a diverse and vibrant programme of live music, hospitality, events, and community engagement, we have drawn thousands of visitors to Spode, helping to reshape public perception of the area and support other businesses in the process.
As discussions around the site’s future intensify, it’s crucial that all key contributors to Spode’s regeneration — particularly those with a demonstrable and ongoing impact — are acknowledged. Omitting The Quarter at Potbank from the conversation risks presenting an incomplete and misleading picture of the site’s true activity and potential.
We urge Stoke-on-Trent City Council and all stakeholders to ensure that any future plans or partnerships for Spode build on the success of its most active tenants and genuinely reflect the contribution they make to the site’s economy and cultural life.